Ever wonder how dogs and cats appear to defy gravity by drinking with their heads down? Or why dogs are so much messier about it?
Well, new research using high-speed video answers this important piece of barroom trivia. It appears that both dogs and cats curl their tongues into cup-like shapes, but while cats scoop from the surface, dogs punch down into the liquid.
Because of surface tension, dogs can then draw up a large column of water, which they capture with their mouths. Needless to say, a lot of the liquid is lost via spray that never quite reaches the intended target.
People could drink this way as well, although we’d waste a lot of water before we wet our whistles.
So the next time you enjoy a tall, cool one, think how big the bar tab would be if you were a dog. Not to mention the cleaning bill.